NYCSLS Library Advisory Council
Council Meeting # 1

Date: October 2, 2008
Time: 12:00 – 3:00pm
Place: New Visions for Public Schools

Members in attendance: Viviane Lampach, Kathy Steves, Carol Katz, Andrea Vaughn, Sally Young, Laurie Price, Sandra Payne, Linda Cooper, Christine Hatami, Linda Williams Bowie, Linda Cuff, Robert Nelson, Tom Nielson, Jennifer Rose, Maureen Hurley, Catherine Innes, Bernadine Lowery-Crute, Medea McAvoy

Office staff in attendance: Barbara Stripling, Esther McRae, Lynne Kresta Smith, Judith Schaffner, Melissa Jacobs-Isreal

Documents at meeting:
NYC SLS Council By-Laws
Citywide Impact Plan 2008-09
Eight Million Reasons to Read

Agenda:
12:00 – 12:30 Eat, meet, greet; introductions -
Kathy Steves, NYCSLS Council Chairperson
12:30 – 1:00 Election of new officers - Kathy Steves
1:00 - 1:45 City-wide Impact Slide Show and discussion - Barbara Stripling, NYCSLS Director
1:45 – 2:30 8 Million Reasons to Read - Barbara Stripling; Judith Schaffner, NYCSLS Coordinator
2:30 - 3:00 Announcements, new business, concerns of members - Kathy Steves

Handouts:
Eight Million Reasons to Read:
Citywide Impact Plan:

Action Items:
Motion was made to accept new officers: Kathy Steves, Council Chairperson; Linda Cuff, Vice-Chair; Christine Hatami, Secretary
Motion seconded and passed unanimously.

Barbara Stripling Reports:
Citywide Impact Plan
The DOE has a strong push for citywide impact initiatives rather than isolated activities. This is a challenge for school library services as we no longer have district or regional library coordinators. Our data shows that 62% of students do not have access to a school library or a certified library media specialist.This occurs at a time when the need for 21st century skills and resources for differentiation increases with the explosion of information available to students. We have developed a multi-faceted approach to professional development:
  • Newly assigned librarians workshops in all boroughs
  • Campus librarians workshops
  • Citywide Fall Conference at Brooklyn Tech High School on Nov. 4th titled "Media Literacy"
  • Spring conferences promoting a solid connection to public libraries
Additional and ongoing activities include:
  • Tween to Teen reading initiative with focus on personal stories
  • Benchmarks and assessments upcoming
  • Middle school initiative supporting 7th grade social studies and 8th science exit projects
  • Library Reach grants and Shop for Public Schools
  • Heart of America/Target library grant awarded to E.Harlem elementary school
  • FedEx/First Book donations from publishers given to 12 schools in the Bronx
  • RESO A councilman grants for technology

Lynne Kresta Smith Reports:
The Library Advisory Committee will continue to work with newly assigned librarians in one-to-one mentoring and through a skills share list that will include phone, email and face-to-face meetings. Esther raised the problem of not having contact with all of the newly assigned librarians. Vivian suggested that each of us reach out through our various support organizations. Robert suggested the possibility that the UFT could be useful in communication with librarians. Christine offered the UFT LMC distirbution list which includes about 250 librarians. Barbara added that there would be an effort to contact the network leaders.

Judith Schaffner Reports:
Eight Million Reasons to Read
As part of the Middle School initiative, this year-long campaign will promote reading through a variety of activities, including:
  • Grant applications available for middle schools with a library media center and a SLMS
  • Students to become Reading Ambassadors within their schools with a pledge to read at least 8 books
  • Reading list is being developed and kick-off soon TBA

Sandra Payne of New York Public Library Reports:
  • Teen Link site now offers webcasts for teens of open discussions about issues of concern
  • The Humanities and Social Sciences Library 2012 renovations will include large spaces for children and teens
  • A temporary circulating library for children will open in early November 2008 with the proposed name The Children's Library at 42nd Street.
  • Teen Central, currently located in the Columbus Branch, will relocate to the forthcoming temporary space, The Grand Central Library on 46th Street near Lexington Avenue in the spring of 2009

Carol Katz of Queens Public Library Reports:
  • New two story Children's Discovery Library is beginning construction
  • Will include hands-on interactive exhibits and learning labs designed for children ages 3-12
  • To be located next to the Central Library in Jamaica

Andrea Vaughn of Brooklyn Public Library Reports:
  • Several branches now offer parent eduaction programs focusing on reading for fun
  • Fall teacher development Happy Hour on Wednesday evenings from 5-7PM at Habana Outpost
  • Tutor.com homework help site continues with 20-minute chats, interactive whiteboard and resource links from 3-9 PM daily

Tom Nielson of METRO Reports:
  • October 7th Webinar: Organization 2.0 and the Future of Libraries
  • December 2nd Webinar: Using Technology to be an Effective

Christine reported that NYSUT would begin a new series of monthly articles to be published in the NYTeacher of book recommendations written by school librarians around the state. A call for submissions has been posted on the listserv. Librarians must be NYLA/SLMS members to submit.
Judith stated that the list of Council members has been posted on the wiki at http:nycsls-council.wikispaces.com

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday Dec. 2nd at John Philips Sousa Middle School located at 37-50 Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. Please RSVP to Bernadine Lowery-Crute.

Upcoming meetings:
Wednesday March 4, 2009
Thursday May 14, 2009
Locations TBA

The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 pm
Minutes submitted by Christine Hatami, Secretary